Dancing with the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended for one week following a controversial social media post referencing the 2022 Oscars slap, becoming the first professional dancer benched mid-season in the ABC competition series ahead of Dedication Night on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
The ballroom faced an unprecedented shake-up on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, when co-host Alfonso Ribeiro addressed the absence with a brief seven-word statement at the opening of the live show. As viewers tuned in for Dedication Night, Ribeiro told the audience, Val is not with us this week.
The suspension stems from fallout during the October 13 episode of the ABC series. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba publicly critiqued a samba performed by Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson—who is Chmerkovskiy’s real-life wife and a fellow professional dancer on the show—taking issue with a lift included in the routine and reading out the official definition of a lift to the ballroom.
Chmerkovskiy TikTok Post Sparks Social Media Backlash
Following the October 13 broadcast, Chmerkovskiy posted a heated message to his TikTok story that quickly drew intense criticism from fans across social media platforms including Reddit and Instagram.
You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.
Val Chmerkovskiy, Dancing with the Stars professional dancer
The deleted post drew immediate concern from viewers who interpreted the reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards—following the comedian’s joke about Jada Pinkett Smith—as a veiled threat directed at Inaba. After online backlash escalated, Inaba acknowledged the remark on her own Instagram account, thanking media outlets for bringing the post to her attention.
BBC Studios Suspends Chmerkovskiy After Inappropriate Post
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, BBC Studios—which produces the competition series—announced that Chmerkovskiy would be benched for Week 6 of the competition, marking a first for the long-running show.
The well-being of everyone who works on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is non-negotiable. Val’s social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show.
BBC Studios, Production Company Statement
Chmerkovskiy, who has appeared as a professional on the program since Season 13 in 2011, issued multiple public apologies. In a statement posted to his Instagram Stories, he expressed regret over the wording of his post and confirmed he had reached out to Inaba directly.
In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to ‘keep my wife’s name’ out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention. Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was.
Val Chmerkovskiy, Dancing with the Stars professional dancer
He added that he would be watching from home to support his fellow competitors, writing, The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in. Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole ‘DWTS’ family lots of love during Dedication Night. I’ll be watching and cheering everyone on!!
Alan Bersten Steps In for Jenna Dewan on Dedication Night
With Chmerkovskiy benched, celebrity contestant Jenna Dewan was paired with professional dancer Alan Bersten for the October 20 live broadcast. Bersten had originally been partnered with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis before their elimination at the end of Week 3.
Dewan acknowledged the lineup change on Instagram hours before the live show, expressing gratitude for her temporary partner while honoring her mother, Nancy, with a Viennese waltz set to The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody
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During rehearsals, Bersten addressed the change with Dewan, telling her, First and foremost, I know it’s a really unusual situation.
Despite the backstage controversy, the couple delivered on the ballroom floor, earning a total score of 37 out of 40.
